Joe Pesci Sues 'Gotti' Producer After Gaining 30 Pounds for Role

July 28, 2011 11:50AM

What do you do when you gain 30 pounds for a role and then oops, studio execs tell you the role you’re playing will be different than the one you signed up for? Fughettaboutit? Not quite. Joe Pesci has filed a lawsuit against the producer of Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father, for $3 million.

According to Deadline, the suit in relation to the drama about the son of Mafia boss John Gotti, Sr. was filed yesterday when Joe indicated he was initially offered the part of Gotti’s right-hand man. Along with playing the role of Angelo Ruggiero came a $3 million paycheck but alas, ’twas not meant to be. After Joe had gained 30 pounds for the part, the filmmakers offered him $1 million instead and a lesser role.

Considering there’s more than one side to every story, however, the Associated Press reported that Marc Fiore, CEO of Fiore Films rejected the claims and said, “Before we had a deal, Mr. Pesci walked away.”

Joe’s attorney called this statement false so despite the lawsuit, the show (and by that of course, we mean the movie) must go on! John Travolta, Lindsay Lohan, Al Pacino and Kelly Preston will star in the biopic which is scheduled to begin filming in January.